Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue'

Repeat flowering floribunda rose with mid green foliage and mildly scented flowers in clusters. Dark rosy pink flower buds open to semi-double flowers, 6-8 cm wide, dark purple, yellow stamens, and a splash of white in the center as if someone dropped a bit of white paint on the inside of the flower. The colour fades to a paler blue-purple shade. Hips are not particularly ornamental.

Registration name: Rosa 'FRAntasia'. Bred by Frank Colishaw (UK).

Prefers a position in full sun and well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early winter. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Average disease resistance.

A stunning rose with lovely, unusual colour combinations of purple and white petals, yellow stamens and deep rose flower buds. From a distance, the flowers appear purple, so plant this rose where you can observe these subtleties. The flower colour varies from plant to plant. If you would like a particular shade, e.g. dark purple (as opposed to lighter purple, blueish or reddish purple), make sure you have seen the plant in flower prior to purchase. Suitable as a standard, container plant, single specimen or mass planting in beds or borders.